Republican Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal called a meeting with Atlanta-based Piedmont Healthcare and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Georgia to assess how negotiations are progressing.

Mr. Deal said the meeting will be held April 16, nearly two weeks after a Piedmont-BCBSGA contract expired March 31. The stalemate has left tens of thousands of BCBSGA patients without in-network access to Piedmont, and Mr. Deal has big stake in the deal: Georgia and the University System of Georgia, based in Atlanta, are absorbing out-of-network claims for 30 days for about 600,000 state employees affected by the spat.

"I expect an update on the progress both sides have made in reaching a resolution to this dispute," Mr. Deal tweeted April 11. "Georgia patients deserve stability from their healthcare plans & an immediate end to disruptions."

A key sticking point is physician payments, WABE reports. However, Jeff Fusile, president of BCBSGA, told the publication the two sides have made "tremendous progress" in negotiating a new agreement.